English is at the core of the curriculum at Gatehouse and our aim is to instil a love of the subject, alongside establishing confident and articulate readers, writers and speakers.

Our objective is to develop independent and passionate readers, who make full use of our comprehensive reading schemes, library facilities and author events. One day, they might be using our ICT facilities to record radio programmes, the next they may be engrossed in a Shakespearean play.

At Gatehouse, children confidently share their valuable ideas and opinions. We are particularly proud of our success in developing their spoken language skills and children have opportunities to do this, both in lessons, and through our numerous plays, public speaking events, School Council, House system and assemblies.

Pupils leave Gatehouse with the ability to write creatively, as well as technically, and they are encouraged to explore writing in different styles and for different purposes, developing their independence as they go.

Year 6 pupils are prepared for 11+ Entrance Examinations and we aim to give them the best possible start to Year 7 at their new schools.